While attorney Donald Marcari of Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban is known in the courtroom for his dedicated representation of clients, his commitment to service extends far beyond the legal arena. As the new school year and football season kick off, Marcari is once again on the field, coaching and mentoring young athletes and serving in multiple leadership roles with the Great Neck Athletic Association (GNAA).
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA / ACCESS Newswire / October 1, 2025 / Coaching Youth and Giving Back to the Community
For over two decades, Don Marcari has volunteered his time as a coach and board member, instilling values of discipline, hard work, and teamwork in the community's youth. His involvement includes coaching at the local high school and middle school as well as serving as Vice President of the GNAA Board of Directors, Football Commissioner, Girls Basketball Commissioner, and an advanced coach for soccer, basketball, and baseball.
So, what inspires a busy managing partner of a law firm to dedicate so much time to youth sports? For Marcari, it's about paying forward the lessons that shaped his own life.
"Besides my parents, my coaches were the biggest influence on my life," Marcari stated. "Football is one of the few sports that teaches life lessons, like goal setting, discipline, and hard work. I felt it important to pass along these lessons to our community's youth."
Lessons from the Field That Shape the Law Firm
This philosophy of service and teamwork is a direct reflection of the values of his law firm, Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, & Balaban. Marcari draws a clear parallel between his two roles.
"At the law firm, our number one goal is to put our clients' needs first and do the best we can for them. It's the same in football; everyone needs to do their job to meet the goals of the team," he explained. "I've learned that no matter how big or fast the opponent is, never be afraid. The one thing you cannot coach is effort. I want every team member at the firm to give their best effort every day no matter what their job."
The impact of this coaching extends far beyond the scoreboard. Marcari regularly hears from parents about the positive changes in their children.
"Regularly, I've had parents tell me at the end of the season what a difference they see in their child both at home and in the classroom because of the lessons they've learned on the football field," Marcari shared.
Building Character and Strengthening the Next Generation
His peers have also observed this long-term, profound impact. Attorney Perry Schrader, who was coached by Marcari as a youth, emphasized the unique life skills fostered on the gridiron.
"Don has been a lifelong mentor both on and off the gridiron... Football is a game of attrition, toughness, and grit, all skills that are critical to succeeding in the game of life," Schrader said. "I can say beyond a reasonable doubt, the skills and traits that landed me where I am at today came from and can be attributed to the lessons I learned on the field."
Schrader highlighted key lessons like resilience ("getting back up after being knocked down"), selflessness ("I played where the TEAM needed me the most"), and the ability to accept constructive criticism, all values Marcari embodies and imparts.
For Marcari, this community visibility is a crucial part of being an attorney. "Attorneys, whether justified or not, get a bad reputation. No one likes an attorney unless it is their attorney," he noted. "I think it is important for us to be visible in the community and give back. Even though we work very hard, we are very fortunate."
By coaching youth sports, Donald Marcari isn't just building better athletes; he's helping build a stronger, more resilient community, one play at a time.
About Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban
Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban is a personal injury law firm that serves Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and also assists veterans with disability benefits nationwide. The firm is dedicated to providing passionate and zealous representation for its clients while maintaining a deep commitment to community involvement and service.
Contact Information:
Email: intake@mrslawfirm.com
Phone Number: 855-435-7247
SOURCE: Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban
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